GMMDC at Nelson Mandela University

STEAM Activities: 11, 13 & 14 August
11 Aug: KwazaKhele High School
13 Aug: Sophakama High School
14 Aug: Newell High School
Learners tackled coding and programming through the Rangers coding game and got creative with Spirolaterals, designing their own geometric patterns. Congrats to our Rangers top scorers and the first learners to complete their Spirolaterals at each school! 🏆

Newell High School achieved the highest level in the Rangers Coding game reaching level 29!

Learning through play, problem-solving, and creativity, these activities were made possible through a generous donation from ISUZU South Africa

Empowering teachers. Inspiring learners. Transforming classrooms.
On 22 July 2026, The Chemical Industries Education & Training Authority (CHIETA) and the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC) officially launched a new partnership aimed at strengthening Mathematics teaching through technology. Teachers and principals from 10 schools attended the launch and received hands-on training on the innovative GammaTutor device, an offline CAPS-aligned teaching and learning tool.
By combining CHIETA's commitment to skills development with GMMDC's expertise in teacher development and educational technology, this programme will provide ongoing support to educators and help create more engaging learning experiences for senior phase learners.
As one educator shared: "This gives us another way to reach the learners who learn differently. It's exciting."

Together, we are investing in teachers today to build the STEM talent of tomorrow.

Calling all FET Physical Science Educators!

Join us for our next FET Educator Training Session on Friday, 14 August 2026 and strengthen your practical teaching skills through two CAPS-aligned laboratory experiments.

Practical Experiments:
• Titrations
• Internal Resistance

Who can attend?
• Physical Science Educators

🏅 SACE Accredited
Earn 5 SACE Points for each practical attended.

Date: Friday, 14 August 2026
Time: 08:00 – 15:00
Venue: STEM in ACTION, Nelson Mandela University, Missionvale Campus, Building 519

🎟️ Limited spaces available!

📝 RSVP by Wednesday, 12 August 2026:
https://forms.office.com/r/mDqYu8yxDk

This training is open to all educators.

Please note: Transport and accommodation are for the educator's own account.

We look forward to welcoming you for another day of hands-on learning, collaboration and professional development!

YOUR FUTURE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

Your next step could lead to groundbreaking discoveries, stronger communities, innovative solutions and a career that creates real impact.

Whether you dream of becoming an engineer, educator, entrepreneur, scientist, lawyer or healthcare professional, this is where your future begins.

Change the World. Start with your application.

Early applications closes today, 3 August 2026

https://www.mandela.ac.za/study-at-mandela/application/apply-undergraduate

ISP Success Story: Celebrating Our Alumni Achievements
From curiosity to Computational Fluid Dynamics, Sergio Plaatjies is a shining example of what perseverance, passion, and opportunity can achieve.
As a young learner, Sergio’s endless curiosity drove him to seek answers beyond the classroom. That same determination helped him overcome the challenges of his first year at university, where discipline, hard work, and the support of family and friends helped him turn setbacks into success.
His passion for Mathematics flourished through participation in the GMMDC Incubator Schools Programme (ISP), where Mathematics and Science classes, combined with an inspiring workshop at Nelson Mandela University led by Dr.Kristóf Fenyvesi, cemented his decision to pursue a future in the field.
Today, Sergio is a proud Nelson Mandela University Faculty of Science graduate with ambitions to further his studies in Applied Mathematics, specialising in Computational Fluid Dynamics, and hopes to use his skills to solve real-world engineering challenges through research and industry.
Sergio’s message to aspiring mathematicians: “Be patient with yourself. Some concepts may seem impossible at first, but every challenge can be overcome one step at a time."
We are incredibly proud to celebrate Sergio’s journey and the impact that the ISP continues to have in nurturing future leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers.
Join us in congratulating Sergio on this remarkable achievement and wishing him every success as he continues to make his mark in the world of Mathematics!

Last week’s PLN: Measurements
From units and conversions to area, volume, and estimation - we dug into how to make Measurements meaningful for learners. Teachers shared strategies, common misconceptions, and classroom activities that work with what we actually have in our schools. Because when learners understand measurement, they start to understand the world around them. It’s all connected.
Thank you to every teacher who showed up and shared. One cog at a time, we’re building stronger Maths classrooms. 💪

Today we celebrate 22/7​ - one of the easiest ways to approximate π ≈ 3.14. At GMMDC, we love any excuse to get excited about Maths.
Because every decimal, every fraction, every formula gets us closer to understanding the world!
Happy Approximation Pi Day!

New term. New goals. Same mission: learning, growing.
To every learner picking up a pen, and every teacher stepping into a classroom - you’ve got this.